Sylvanus Bourne to John Adams, September 8, 1789

Boston Sept 8 th 1789—

My respected Sir—

I was honoured by the due Receipt of your obliging fav r. of Aug t 30 th for which you have my Cordial thanks— I am fully sensible
of the justness of your Observations, relative to the Presidents nominations, and doubt
not, they will be all made free from any partial biass whatever, and on the principles
of humanity, Wisdom, & justice to his Country, whose best interests, have been his
uniform Study & pursuit; no personal dissappointment will ever excite in my mind a
distrustful idea of the good wishes of my friends towards me—convinced of the uncertain
nature of these kind of applications—

I have yet some hopes of a registership in the Judiciary to which
Object M r Jay may have it in his power to assist me
essentially— Should I be eventually defeated in my wishes for a domestic Office, I would
wish the fav r of your opinion upon the subject of my
original intent of going as Consul to Cadiz— you once observed to me while at M r Jay’s that if Harrison did not go you thought it clear for
me— Harrison has repeatedly told his friends here, that he did not wish to go unless a
salary was affixed to the office; but I will consent to go without, depending on forming
some mercantile connection & the chance of a future moderate grant from Gov t: should the President be inlined to fav r my views I suppose it to be fully within his power to
originate this appointment if unaccompanied by a pecuniary Stipend & should he think
it of public advantage & that I am capable of rendering public service herein—he can
send down his nomination before the Senate rise this Session— in a leisure moment will
you please to inform me on this Subject.— 1

Prompted I hope by justifiable motives I have chosen this crisis to
obtain some employ in my Countrys Service but if foiled in every attempt—I shall not yet
despair—by fortitude, industry, & persevarance in private pursuits to be able to
support that character & Reputation in the world without which Life will be to me
scarce an Object of desire— I sometimes am led to think it a curse to possess any
Ambition & to look with envy on the stupid, senseless part of Mankind, who are
willing to tread on the same “dull pace from day to day”

D r Sir I suppose the poem you allude
to—to be the infamous production of a disappointed expectant by the name of Edward Church , 2 who tainted by his Brother’s treacherous blood, would hope to poison the public mind—
but a Character like your’s Sir built on the broad basis of tried
Integrity, superior Ability and an ardent love of your Country manifeted by a series of
painful services, is not to be shaken by the envenomed shafts of Envy—or the rancourous
ebulitions of a corroded mind—but shall remain unsullied in the grateful sentiments of
the virtuous part of your Countrymen, till time shall be no more, and after that curtain
shall drop, which will open to your view, the more peaceful scenes of a future
existence—

Please to tender my best Respects to M rs Adams & the rest of your good Family believing me to be with unfeigned
Essteem & Respect / Your Obliged & devoted / Serv t

Silv a: Bourn